Manufacturing method for patterning CIGS/CIS solar cells
First Claim
1. A method for patterning a shaped thin-film photovoltaic device, the method comprising:
- providing a length of tubular substrate including an electrode layer and an overlying absorber layer having a first thickness;
inserting the tubular substrate on a spindle, the spindle being inflated to fasten the tubular substrate;
disposing a scribe device including a tip, the scribe device being configured to shift along the length of tubular substrate and configured to apply pressure to the tip, the tip being placed on a first region of the absorber layer;
rotating the spindle to cause a rotation of the tubular substrate relative to the scribe device, the scribe device applying a pressure to the tip to form a first pattern into the absorber layer from the first region to extend around the tubular substrate and at least down to the first thickness;
forming a window layer having a second thickness overlying the absorber layer including the first pattern;
disposing the scribe device including the tip near a second region of the window layer;
rotating the spindle to cause a rotation of the tubular substrate relative to the scribe device, the scribe device applying a pressure to the tip to form a second pattern into the window layer and the absorber layer from the second region to extend around the tubular substrate and at least down to the first thickness plus the second thickness;
wherein the tip is provided at an angle ranging from about normal to about 15 degrees relative to a surface normal of the absorber layer or window layer.
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Abstract
A method for fabricating a shaped thin-film photovoltaic device. The method includes providing a shaped substrate member including a surface region and forming a first electrode layer overlying the surface region. Additionally, the method includes forming an absorber comprising copper species, indium species, and selenide species overlying the first electrode layer. The method further includes scribing through the absorber using a mechanical tip to form a first pattern. Furthermore, the method includes forming a window layer comprising cadmium sulfide species overlying the absorber including the first pattern. Moreover, the method includes scribing through the window layer and the absorber using the mechanical tip to form a second pattern. The second pattern is separated a distance from the first pattern.
300 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for patterning a shaped thin-film photovoltaic device, the method comprising:
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providing a length of tubular substrate including an electrode layer and an overlying absorber layer having a first thickness; inserting the tubular substrate on a spindle, the spindle being inflated to fasten the tubular substrate; disposing a scribe device including a tip, the scribe device being configured to shift along the length of tubular substrate and configured to apply pressure to the tip, the tip being placed on a first region of the absorber layer; rotating the spindle to cause a rotation of the tubular substrate relative to the scribe device, the scribe device applying a pressure to the tip to form a first pattern into the absorber layer from the first region to extend around the tubular substrate and at least down to the first thickness; forming a window layer having a second thickness overlying the absorber layer including the first pattern; disposing the scribe device including the tip near a second region of the window layer; rotating the spindle to cause a rotation of the tubular substrate relative to the scribe device, the scribe device applying a pressure to the tip to form a second pattern into the window layer and the absorber layer from the second region to extend around the tubular substrate and at least down to the first thickness plus the second thickness; wherein the tip is provided at an angle ranging from about normal to about 15 degrees relative to a surface normal of the absorber layer or window layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for forming a shaped thin-film photovoltaic device, the method comprising:
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providing a shaped substrate member including a surface region; forming a first electrode layer overlying the surface region; forming an absorber comprising copper species, indium species, and selenium species overlying the first electrode layer; scribing through the absorber using a mechanical tip to form a first pattern; forming a window layer comprising cadmium sulfide species overlying the absorber including the first pattern; and scribing through the window layer and the absorber using the mechanical tip to form a second pattern, the second pattern being separated a distance from the first pattern, wherein the method further comprises cleaning the first pattern and the second pattern free of contaminants and particles respectively following each scribing. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification